Axar Patel becomes the first bowler to take 11 wickets in a pink ball Test

Axar Patel scripted history as he became the first bowler to take 11 wickets in a Day-night Test match. On a wicket that supported his style of bowling, Axar Patel was literally unplayable. The all-rounder bullied the English batting-unit in both innings to finish with figures of 11/70. Axar Patel picked up his third Test five-wicket haul in the longest format of the game as India bundled out England for 81 in their second innings. Seventeen wickets fell on Thursday as spinners dominated the first international match at the newly-built stadium in Ahmedabad. India and England will now meet again at the same venue for the fourth and final Test. 

Patel's 11/70 is now the best-ever bowling figure in a day-night Test. Australian fast bowler Pat Cummins was the previous record-holder. The pacer recorded 10/62 against Sri Lanka in Brisbane during the 2019 summer.

Axar Patel has been a productive inclusion to the Indian team in the absence of off-spin all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja.

Axar Patel became the third Indian spinner to scalp a five-wicket haul in each innings of a Test match

Axar Patel has also become the third Indian spinner after Laxman Sivaramakrishnan and R Ashwin to scalp a five-wicket haul in each innings of a Test match. The 27-year-old was named the Player of the Match for his exceptional performance with the ball.

Axar, who had figures of 6 for 38 in the first innings on Day 1, dismissed Zak Crawley, Dom Sibley, Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow, and Ben Foakes to complete his third five-wicket haul in Test cricket. India concluded England's second innings inside a session as they bowled the visitors out for 81. This has been England's lowest Test total against India.

With this win, India is currently leading the WTC points table with 490 points. Virat Kohli and Co. will now need to either draw or win the final Test to seal a place in the WTC final against New Zealand.

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